Memorandum for: Ponc Gavrisom
Chief of State, the New Republic
Subject: Report on the Dantooine Incident
Classification: Secret (CTX-Directive), High Priority NRI's full report on the reputed incident of piracy against a convoy of Druckenwell vessels will be forthcoming as soon as we have had the opportunity to review all sensor data, communications records, and so on. While we have not come to a determination as to the perpetrator of this act, it seems, however, that it would be useful to present to you what facts we have gathered at this early point in the investigation.
What we know (at this point mostly from interviewing the crews of the target vessels): A convoy of freighters hailing from Druckenwell and carrying supplies bound for Dantooine, as part of the relief efforts for the disease outbreak there, were approached by an as-yet undetermined number of "Defender Starfighters" and "R-41 Starchasers" painted with the colors of Dantooine's Patriot Defense Force and, indeed, identifying themselves as such. The fighters solicited themselves as escorts, sent on behalf of Dantooine. The freighters accepted this escort.
At some point within the next 4 1/2 to 5 minutes, the fighters opened fire on Druckenwell's vessels and ordered them to stand down, which they did. The freighters were approached also by a DP20 Corellian Gunship of unknown origin, which assisted the raiders in boarding Druckenwell's ships and procuring their cargo. No one was killed or injured in the incident.
While I must stress, again, that NRI has not yet arrived at a determination as to who was responsible, there is already an emerging consensus at the Analysis Bureau that, like the Twin Worlds Incident, this is a deliberate attempt to implicate Dantooine in an act of piracy it most likely did not commit; many of our assets at Dantooine (including the New Republic garrison there, and the Mon Calamari cruiser Home One which has been working with Dantooine's Patriot Defense Force) confirmed immediately that all of Dantooine's known fighters were accounted for, and have not left the planet. What's more, the planet's finances are significantly limited and it is doubtful that it could have acquired more such fighters without NRI's knowledge.
There is a possibility, being discussed at the Analysis Bureau, that this incident (so closely following the similar Twin Worlds affair) could be seen as a concerted attempt to deliberately implicate Dantooine in interstellar criminal acts. If this is the case, the perpetrator(s) and motive(s) are not known at this time--however, it should be noted that impersonating traffic control and law enforcement officials is a rather common practice in piracy. This does not, however, account for the Twin Worlds affair.
There is agreement, however, that Dantooine is unlikely to have a motive in either of these incidents compelling enough to so carelessly implicate itself in them (particularly since the cargo on these vessels--primarily medical supplies--was already destined for Dantooine). It is possible, however also not plausible, that Jamulon Desilijic Tiure of Dantooine might wish to intercept these supplies for resale, as has been alleged, but as NRI has already been monitoring Mr. Tiure's finances we do not believe he possesses a sufficient organization or sufficient means to organize an incident such as this without the involvement of Dantooine's Patriot Defense Force which, as aforementioned, has been accounted for.
We will forward to you our full report and conclusions when they are finished. In the meantime, Sir, I hope this information is useful to your purposes.
